Beverage dispenser



' .time 29, '1965 S. C. BAKER BEVERAGE DISPENSER Filed April 10, 1965 @um Q. z/m

ATTORNEY United States PatentTA 3,191,402 .11QBEVERAGE .DISPENSER Stephen ,Cgakery Detljtritj,lViich.,J assigner to Su-Ev, Inc.,

This invention relatesto beverageldispeners in general and more particularly to a portable dispenserfor bottled beverages.

Bottled beverages are` currentlyavailablein small eight ounce to large half-gallonsizes. Normally thev smaller sizes are purchased because of the greater ease in handling and storage Y despite the economy ,of Vthe `larger containers.

Almost all, bottled `beverages must. be kept cool, once chilled, or they `become Ydatand, tasteless. Also, despite numerous Lingenious bottle capping devices, the beverages in a recapped bottle is seldom as palatable as,whenfirst opened.

The smaller beverage bottles thusoier manvconveniences to the, purchaser ,and ultimate consumer. They may be storedat roomtemperature and `only the quantity needed is required vto ,be,kept in .cold` storage for any length of time. The small., size is `much. more convenient to `store -ina.refr igerator andonceremoved it the larger container `requires more refrigerationto be Hsuliiciently chilled for; good` drinking-pleasure.

The greater l.ctmvenience ofsma-ller bottlesfor consumable beveragesalso extendsto portable cooling boxes l. and dispensers aspresentIy known.

Most portable cocJlingA boxes include insulated storage 4compartments inwhich beverage containers are` disposed with ice packed tightly thereabout. `Thesrnaller bottles are more easily arranged in such compartments andthe ,smaller amount of..beverage .impeach container is cooled ,morel quickly. The largerubottles are awkwardto handle Aand must .be recapped and `worked back into ice after each serving. Y

It isV an object of this invention to provide `allportable storage and dispenser unit for all sizes of bottled beverage, and more particularly one 4which is `particularly suited to handle thelarger and Vnioreeconomical beverage containers.

It is an object ofwthisV inventionto provide an integral storage` and dispenser unit wherein the beverage container maybe received 4at room temperature and immediately dispensed'in al chilled and most palatable condition.

The portable dispenser unit of this invention contemplates separate dry storage of one or more bottles of thesame or different-beverage, the use of cooling coils in a separate chillingcompartrnent, pressurized connections for ilowing beverage directly from a bottle container through the cooling coils and to a dispensing spigot, and proportionate means assuring suitable cooling simultaneously with drawing the beverage from their containers.

Among other objects of this invention is to provide a compact storage and dispenser unit which is lightweight and readily portable, simple in construction for ease and economy in production, sturdy for long serviceable use,

O "nce tand easy. to4 use -by any and all `members. of the'household.

. A `These and other vobjects and-advantages to befgained `A handle 1S is provided on the box iin-a Abalanced dis- ,position between the-two compartments.

, and attractively painted.

inthe practice of this invention will bebetter understood andappreciated upon a.reading of the .following speciicationiinregard to a preferred embodiment of the invent'ion and having reference tothe accompaying drawings wherein:

-FIGURE 1 is a-perspectiveview ofthe -beveragedispenser unit of this invention with a'partwthereof lbroken away.

i.. FIGURE 2 isV an end perspective view ofthe beverage dispenser of FIGURE lwith the end cover removed.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view'of' the beverage dispenserof FIGURES 1 and 2.

` FIGURE 4 is atop plan view of the beverage dispenser shown `by the other drawingfiigures withthe cover members removed.

Thebeverage dispenser unit -10 shown by'the drawings is a .twofbottle' gallon capacity unit. Two separate halfgallon--bottlesor?` beer or yother beveragemay' be conveniently transported by this unit for vdispensing the bottled beverage at the pleasure :of vthe consumer.

The beveragerdispensingunit includesl a'lportable box 12 which `is `formed to provide a separate storage compartment.14and an insulated cooling compartmentl.

:The box 12 `is made ofvgalvanized sheet metal suitably .It -includes side walls 29 interconnected by -afront -wall 22, bottom wall l2 4 and `a rdividing'wall disposedparallel and spaced from the -front Wall22. The dividing wall thus serves to separate the tbox Vinto` the respectivestorage and cooling'compartments 14 and 16.

A sheet metal box 28, smaller .-in `size than the compartment space16 and open at its upper end, is disposed `in the compartment space to'provide spaced wallsbetweenwhich is disposedinsulation material 30. `The box :isfsealed to the upper edges of the side, front and dividing .-walls, of the outerboxlZfand is -fluid tight' for cooling -puid retaining purposes. as will later be described.

A double walled rand-insulated cover A32., with a suit- -able handle 34, is used to close the compartment spacel6.

:Thestorage compartment space 14 is closedby a hinged cover -36 which isformed by the top wall 38 and back'wall 40 of the box unit. The side Vedges of the cover36 are supported on-the upperand back edges of the side walls 2 0. .The weight of the cover-keepsit closed and `a lip angefilontthe'bottom'wall 24 serves as a stop.

Withinthe 'storage compartment 14 is disposed a pressure chamber member or tank 44. A valveV stem inlet V46 4is .providedfor manual pressurizing ofthe tank, as `by a :tire pump or `other pressure means. A CO2 cartridge holder 48 is provided on a connection'St) to the.pressure ,chamber and a pressure gauge 52 -is similarly `connected tothe tank for readingthepressure condition of thertank.

`As willbe subsequently appreciated,the pressure chamb er member or tank 44 serves as a reserve or header `tank to assure even pressure distribution in the dispensing of the bottled beverage `provided by the disclosed unit.

,A regulator valve 54 is provided in the `pressure chamberline50, over `the `cartridge holder connection, and, if desired, a line pressure .gauge/56 may also be included. A `shut-oli? and ,safety valve V58 Ais nally provided between the pressure .chamber connection andthe pressure line 60 to the beverage bottles to be charged. In those instances in which two beverage bottles are used this valve may be of the two-way or selective type.

One or more beverage retaining bottles 62 can be disposed within the storage compartment space 14. As shown by the drawings, the pressure chamber member or tank 44 is preferably disposed centrally against the comlli) partinent dividing wall 26, and in this manner, two large size beverage bottles 62 may be disposed next adjacent each other near the front of the storage compartment space.

A sealing ca-p 64 is provided on each beverage bottle 62. The pressure line 60 extends through the closure or .sealing cap 64 and suitable conduit means 66 extend down :into the bottle for transferring the beverage out of the -bottle and to the cooling compartment space 16.

Within the cooling compartment space 16 is provided a pair of interwound cooling coils 68 and '70. Each of these coils is connected by suitable conduit means 72 and 74 to the different beverage bottles 62.

The inner box 28 is subsequently lled with ice and water 76 to provide the necessary coolant to chill the beverage owing through the cooling coils. Each of the coils includes an outlet connection 78 and titl respectively which are engaged to either a separate or a selective spigot 82 as shown. y

A drain outlet 84 is provided through the bottom of the coolant retaining box 23 and a suitable drain hose 86 is connected to the drain outlet and extends to a height above the water level in the cooling compartment space.

The beverage dispensing unit 10 is best used in the 'following manner:

' placed into service.

Prior to tapping either of the beverage bottles, the rcoollng compartment space 1.6 is lled with ice and water sufiiciently toy cover the cooling coils 68 and 70. Thereafter, the pressure chamber'reserve tank 44 is suitably charged through either the valve stem inlet 46 or by means of a CO2 cartridge activated within the cartridge holder 48. The tank pressure is checked as a safety precaution, the valve 54 is regulated to provide the proper line pressure, if not preset, and the line pressure gauge 56 is checked, if such a gauge device is provided. g

One ofthe beverage bottles 62 is next opened and the sealing cap 64 is engaged on the neck of the bottle.

Immediately thereafter the valve 58 may be opened and, the spigot 82 operated to bleed air from the system and immediately thereafter draw a cool and refreshing beverage for the consumers immediate pleasure.

It will be appreciated that two separate beverage bottles 62 may be connected in the system at the same time. Whenone bottle is empty the regulator valve 58 may be switched over to draw from the other bottle. Likewise, bottles of different beverages may be used and the spigot 82 selectively operated to draw from one or the other.

In all instances, it will be appreciated that the elfective rlength of the cooling coils 63 and 7i) provides adequate chilling of the beverage passing therethrough, in the normal course of such passage and assures consistent and continuous drawing of an adequately cooled drinking beverage from a source kept at room temperature.

A relative weight balance may be maintained between the storage and cooling compartments 14 and 16 by the amount of cooling water retained in the cooling space. That is, the weight of the beverage bottles 62 and their contents, the pressure tank 44 and its valves and connections,may be balanced by the amount of water retained in the coolant chamber during transportation of the dispenser unit 10. The drain hose 86 may be lowered, as shown in phantom outline, to drain ott excess water and give a relative balance at any time. The cooling capacity of the unit may be later brought to maximum by lling the cooling coil space with water from any convenient source.

The portable beverage dispenser 10 has many uses. It may be conveniently used at home inthe kitchen, bar or recreation room. It may be used in cars and trucks to provide liquid refreshment during long trips. It is ideal for camping and beach outings. It may be used commercially to dispense bottled beverages which are infrequently requested or as a portable party table unit on a 'wheeled cart which may be located near a group of people so that they may draw a cool and refreshing beverage as desired and without over-solicitous attention by a waitress or other attendant.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described Vin detail, it will be appreciated that certain modiications and improvements are within the scope of the teachings set forth. Accordingly, such of these improvements and modifications as are within the spirit of the invention and are not specilically excluded by the language of the hereinafter appended claims are to be considered as inclusive thereunder.

I claim:

It. A portable beverage dispenser, comprising:

a lightweight portable box having a carrying handle, a

pair of compartments provided in said box of comparable size and weight receptive capacity and in balanced relation to said carrying handle,

one of said compartments having a pressurizing chamber member and related valves and controls provided therein,

the other of said compartments being insulated and having a cooling coil provided therein,

said one compartment being receptive of household size tluid container means therein for engagement with said pressurizing chamber member and said cooling coil,

said other compartment being receptive of coolant fluid therein and about said cooling coil,

and said coolant receptive compartment having a fluid weight capacity at least equal to that of said uid container means and having drainage means operatively connected thereto for maintaining an acceptable carrying weight balance therewith.

2. The portable beverage dispenser of claim 1,

said pressurizing chamber being provided in said one compartment and in weight balancing relation to said insulated compartment in the absence of coolant iluid therein.

3. The portable beverage dispenser of claim `2,

said fluid container receptive compartment including means in combination with said pressurizing chamber member for receiving and retaining separate fluid container means in weight balancing relation therein. l

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 340,377 4/86 Shomate 62-396 X 1,513,194 10/24 Stein 62-399 1,979,219 10/34 Bodine 62-400 X 2,113,972 4/38 Adams 62-400 X 2,626,244 10/50 Larkin 62-400 X 2,541,709 2/51 Marx 62-399 X 3,069,869 12/62 Mueller 62-396 X 3,074,700 1/ 63 Buttner et al. 62-400 X ROBERT A. OLEARY, PimaryExamner, 

1. A PORTABLE BEVERAGE DISPENSER, COMPRISING: A LIGHTWEIGHT PORTABLE BOX HAVING A CARRYING HANDLE, A PAIR OF COMPARTMENTS PROVIDED IN SAID BOX OF COMPARABLE SIZE AND WEIGHT RECEPTIVE CAPACITY AND IN BALANCED RELATION TO SAID CARRYING HANDLE, ONE OF SAID COMPARTMENTS HAVING A PRESSURIZING CHAMBER MEMBER AND RELATED VALVES AND CONTROLS PROVIDED THEREIN, THE OTHER OF SAID COMPARTMENTS BEING INSULATED AND HAVING A COOLING COIL PROVIDED THEREIN, SAID ONE COMPARTMENT BEING RECEPTIVE OF HOUSEHOLD SIZE FLUID CONTAINER MEANS THEREIN FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PRESSURIZING CHAMBER MEMBER AND SAID COOLING COIL, SAID OTHER COMPARTMENT BEING RECEPTIVE OF COOLANT FLUID THEREIN AND ABOUT SAID COOLING COIL, AND SAID COOLANT RECEPTIVE COMPARTMENT HAVING A FLUID WEIGHT CAPACITY AT LEAST EQUAL TO THAT OF SAID FLUID CONTAINER MEANS AND HAVING DRAINAGE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED THERETO FOR MAINTAINING AN ECCEPTABLE CARRYING WEIGHT BALANCE THEREWITH. 